Giglio Discusses Pack “Options” at QB

It’s just a small blurb from last week – Tom O’Brien discussing the five potential starters at QB. It’s not really an embarrassment of riches, as past performance or inexperience means that all candidates come with question marks.

But it’s really an academic discussion. Russell Wilson will start, and barring injury or extreme ineffectiveness, will do so all year. So – who do you think should be Wilson’s backup? I would bet on Justin Burke, but that’s a complete guess.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.
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31 Responses to Giglio Discusses Pack “Options” at QB

BJD95: We debated Daniel Evans extensively prior to last season. If it is true that his arm strength is improved after the off-season and the surgeries, then I can’t see any scenario where he isn’t at least the backup.

Starting QB? What about our starting C and RG being guys who havn’t played on that side of the ball for 3 years or more. Can you imagine the yellow laundry we will see until these boys unlearn to use their hands?

I’m looking more forward to Wilson starting at 2B than at QB. Any QB TOB chooses is going to be running for his life. For that matter why don’t we add a sixth candidate, P Bradley Pierson, he is clocked as the fastest player in terms of 40 times.

^^ No. Mike Glennon is a true freshman who did not enroll early. He and Wilson will provide healthy competition for each other in 2009 and beyond. Also don’t think it’s good to utilize an immobile QB behind this year’s offensive line – especially as a true frosh.

I suppose it’s possible that if Wilson suffered a season-ending injury, Glennon might burn his redshirt. But I would expect Burke to get a chance first.

My sense is that Burke could run a series of plays similar to those designed for Wilson. That’s why I would expect him to be the backup, if he can handle it. I wouldn’t expect him to play much.

Evans surgery is clearly a wild card here. The article says that Evans started 8 games – I’m guessing that’s UCF, FSU, ECU, UVA, Miami, UNC, UMd and WAke. In that case, we were 4-4 in those games – and Evans played the kind of game TOB would expect from his QB in 3 of them. If – and that’s a huge if – the surgery results in better arm strength for Evans, he certainly becomes a more viable option – especially if Wilson struggles.

Still, I’m not sure if better arm strenght will a) improve his accuracy on the run and b)help his decision making when he struggles w/ his confidence.

As for Glennon – I’m really hoping we can redshirt him this year. I think Wilson impressed the staff in the spring w/ his hard work and dedication.

From what I’ve seen of his overall #s in scrimmages, Burke needs to improve on his decision making and accuracy. He was pretty impressive in the spring game, but that was one game. One has to wonder about how well he’s practiced if he wasn’t able to beat out Beck and Evans.

We are building a program here, and Evans clearly isn’t the future (nor is he a GOOD option for this year). We need to find out what we have.

Immobile, below average ACC QB, behind a spotty offensive line. Oh, and he’s coming off major surgery and has a tendency to panic when facing heavy pressure. 5th-year senior on a team that would only be bowl eligible if everything breaks just right.

I tend to think Evans won’t even be the backup unless the other candidates are outright horrible. Which I understand is a distinct possibility.

BJD – I definitely agree that all indications are that the staff really likes Wilson.

As far as Evans goes, I’m not writing anything off yet. Better arm strength could force defenses to change their tactics a little bit. I’m sure every D we’ve faced has known to give the WRs some cushion and flood the middle of the field and you’ll have some opportunities to get some picks. At least know there will be other throws he can make under pressure. The surgery could also help him throw on the run, which is another one of his weaknesses.

^
You could say that about most quarterbacks from peyton manning to jay davis. question is, will our O Line this year protect the QB? i certainly don’t know. as far as moving a DT to right guard and starting him, at least Vermiglio is listed behind him at that position. and since he seemed at least decent when he played last year (and a little nasty), i would assume the guy in front of him is decent as well. i just wonder what’s going on at right guard with meares green ahead of McCuller.

Wilson impressed me with his confidence and speed during the baseball playoff games. He came in off the bench and got some clutch hits. If he can keep his composure and maintain his speed when behind the center he may do just fine in spite of an untried OL. My money is also on him this year.

I’d guess it will be Wilson, Burke, Evans, with Glennon redshirting. Wilson probably gives us the best chance to win with his mobility. My argument for Burke at #2 is if we are installing a number of sets for a mobile QB, Burke is the next best suited for them.

W/R/T Beasley, someone posted on PackPride that he is now eligible due to the discovery of an NCAA Clearinghouse mistake. No offcial confirmation that I have seen. We need some LBs though, so I hope it’s true.

BJD – I think in the right situation, Evans would be an effective QB…not great mind you – but effective. As you correctly note, that right situation would be a good OL and good running game.

I really thought that his best game of the year was the Miami game. He didn’t have great #s, but managed the game VERY well. What was downright sad to me is that rather than building on that, he appeared to lose his confidence w/ 2 bad pick 6 passes in the UNC-Ch game.

I firmly believe that if we don’t lose the TO battle, we can compete w/ every team on our schedule w/ the possible exception of Clemson. I also believe that Russell Wilson may be the best hope to win those TO battles.

My guess, which counts for and means nothing thank goodness, is that Daniel starts against The Carolina team. Russell comes into that game as QB if,and when, we are down by 7+ points , need momentum change, etc. After Carolina we start Russell. If Mike is not going to red shirt, then substitute Mike’s name for Russell’s name above.

That Miami game was perhaps the strangest football game I’ve ever seen. Miami’s QB played the entire game, and completed ONE PASS to a Hurricane (he completed 3 to NC State). Of course, that one completion was an 80-yard TD against badly blown coverage – and we still needed OT to win. Thank God for Steven Hauschka – that kid was a real badass.

I don’t think we’ll win many games this year unless the QB makes some plays. And frankly, many of those plays will need to be made (or at least set up by) the QB’s feet.

Too much is being placed on the currently posted depth chart, given that it is based solely on spring practice in which not all of the pieces were there. I expect that the current depth chart will change several times before we tee it up at Williams Bryce for game one. This will be due to many factors not the least of which will be injury and performance. This will hold especially true for the offensive line, which I do expect will be much improved over last yearâ€™s unit. We saw considerable improvement in the O.L. from the first half of the season to the second half of last year due to the learning curve around a new system. And there is a lot more mentally involved in playing on the O.L. then you might think. We have some talent there and it will have a year more experience in what T.O.B.s past history indicates is a very solid system.

As far as Daniel Evans is concerned, you have to remember he threw those INTs with a bad shoulder and if he is 100%, which he was nowhere near last year, he may be a pretty serviceable QB. I am not saying that he will start or that I even think that he will start; just that if his injury has been fixed and it is behind him, he will be much improved from last yearâ€™s version and that experience is 50% of the equation.

Barring decimation to the depth chart at QB, Glennon will Red Shirt, he is the QB of the future for the Pack; he just fits in too nicely with what TOB has shown preference for in the past.

Re: Beaseley – there was an NCAA clearinghouse issue where they messed up. Supposedly the kid is a very good student because he couldn’t believe it when he was told he didn’t qualify. The article didn’t say what they messed up on, only that one of the linebackers coach (forget his name) called Beaseley to tell him that he was in and that there was a mistake.

I regulalry talk to one of the RBs we have and he thinks Evans will start. He doesn’t think it is definite, but the only thing that he has said that worries me is that the o-line can’t run block. With our RB core I would be alot more optimistic if they could open some holes up for the studs we have at RB.

That’s a horribly frightening proposition; however, it’s one that doesn’t really shock me given the lack of experience at O-line and the need for the coaching staff to move guys into those positions from the D-line.

If true, I foresee a lot of 3rd and longs followed by punts… regardless of who our QB is.